Download the UBF brochure here
Weekly Message | February 28th, 2010
Passage: Luke 10:1-24
Key Verse(s): 2
This is about Jesus’ fieldwork training of his disciples. Luke 9:1-6 gives the first training for the Twelve. Luke 10:1-24 is about 72 junior disciples. Jesus plants a clear prayer topic in their hearts. It is for God. It is toward the world. It is about their life-long mission. Most of all, it is about God’s heart for the world. Jesus gave this fieldwork training to these growing disciples while he was heading toward Jerusalem. This is the essential training that the disciples had in order to engage with the world and experience God.
Christians at the right time also need fieldwork training. We all need time to take care of our own needs. We all need the time of mere association with Jesus and his people. We all need to learn, study, and listen to great teachings and preachings. But we all need this fieldwork training so that we may expereince God—his heart for the world, his power and authority, and the great joy that follows.
This is a fairly long passage which is very closely connected. First, Jesus sends out the seventy two with clear instructions. (1-16) Second, the disciples expereince the authority and power of God. (17-21) Third, Jesus reveals his joy, and gives praises and blessings. (22-24)
First, “Go, I am sending you like lambs among wolves” (1-16)
Look at verse 1: “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.” Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem. It was the last trip before his death on the cross. Jesus wanted to visit all the villages in the Galilean district and its vicinity. But the time was too short for Jesus to do this alone. So Jesus sent seventy-two other disciples out to take care of those who had not yet heard the good news of the kingdom of God.
Why did Jesus send his disciples out two by two? Because people need co-workers. Why? Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Two persons getting together in doing God’s work is God’s wisdom. Matthew 18:19 says, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Two persons getting together is God’s wisdom.
Look at verse 2: “He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” The harvest is the amount of the crop to be gathered. The Lord of the harvest is the owner of the crop who hires many workers for gathering crops. According to Jesus, the world is the harvest field. It is full of spiritual opportunities. Our God is the Lord of the harvest. Our God loves this world that is ready for the harvest. God desires to reap a great harvest in this world. The disciples are the harvest workers. Thus, Jesus wants his disciples to experience God’s heart for the world through this fieldwork training.
Look at verse 3: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Lambs among wolves have no chance to survive. Wolves are in this world at large. The power of evil and work of Satan are obvious in this world. Wolves devour and destroy lambs. Therefore, this world has traces of sicknesses, evil, injustices, and sufferings. Jesus’ disciples as lambs face spiritual and physical dangers in the world. As people suffer in this world, Jesus’ discipels share sufferings as well. But Jesus did not say that the disciples are lambs. They just appear to be like lambs, yet in reality they are much more powerful than lambs among wolves. They depend on Jesus, their good Shepherd. Then, why are these disciples, seemingly helpless like lambs among wolves, mighty in this world for God?
First, they depend on God for their needs. Look at verse 4: “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.” Jesus asked his disciples not to carry too much. Keep their travel simple and light. Jesus asked his disciples not to be distracted. Don’t try to be too nice to everyone. Rather, focus on their mission and depend on God.
Second, they have God’s message of peace. Look at verses 5-6: "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.” In this world peace is easily shattered. This world is quite anxious and full of troubles. The disciples are to go and tell to each place, “Peace to this house.” They offer words of God’s peace to every home they visit. This is in a sense a normal Jewish greeting. In a sense, Jesus instructs his discipels to share daily greetings as we do, “How are you doing?” But Jesus gives this normal greeting a new meaning. Jesus’ disciples really offer God’s peace with their presence and prayers for them. Much knowledge gives more anxiety. An expectant mother these days sometimes has less peace knowing too much about the baby that is to be born. Yet, God’s peace is given to us so we are not anxious about anything but present our requests to God. (Php 4:6-7)
Third, God prepares the right people for them. Look at verse 7: “Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.” Jesus’ discipls were to stay in the house that welcomed them. The history of mission is about history of finding the right people. This is what we read in the book of Acts. How could the disciples, strangers in a foreign land, preach the good news? God provides the right people for them. For example, the church at Philippi started because Apostle Paul found one woman, Lydia and her family. (Acts 16:14-15) In this world, there are people who welcome the message from God. God prepares spiritually thirsty people, truth loving people, humble people. These people open their hearts first and offer what they have for the disciples of Jesus.
Fourth, they have the message of the kingdom of God. Look at verses 10-11: “But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’” Jesus’ disicples have this message of the kingdom of God. Jesus reminded them of this message twice, “The kingdom of God is near.” The kingdom of God is about God. This is where God’s presence and his rule are welcome. This is where his power is displayed. This is where his blessings are evident. Where the good news of Jesus is preached in spirit and truth, people experinece the kingdom of God. What is the message of hope in this world? Regardless of what happens in this world, what do we believe? It is the message of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is near. God is near.
Why is this message of the kingdom of God such a good news? In spite of many wonderful things in this life, the essence of this life is quite clear. As Isaiah said, this life is just like grass and a flower in the field. They wither and die away. The longer we live, we do not really see any real reason for hope in this life. What can we see ahead of us? Sooner or later our end comes. We will meet God. Because of Jesus the prospect of seeing the end of this life is not to be feared. Rather, the hope of the kingdom of God through Jesus provides us a reason of sheer joy. St. Paul summarizes the essence of the message of hope in this way: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice. The Lord is near.” (Php 4:4) So what do we do? We let our gentleness be evident to all. (Php 4:5) God is near when we feel so hopeless. God is near, thus we are not so helpless. God is near; so we are not so weak. God is near; therefore, we rejoice always.
Certainly, not all people accept and welcome the message of the kingdom of God. In some cases, the disciples may not find anyone who would welcome them throughout the entire village. Then what do they do? They wipe off of their feet even the dust of the town. They do not lose their spirit of gentleness and peace. They joyfully move on.
Fifth, they see God’s heart for this dying world. Look at verse 12: “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” The message of the kingdom of God is about salvation and judgment. Jesus demonstrated the truthfulness of God’s judgement when he spoke about three cities─Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Jesus declared, “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.” (13-15) Jesus pronoucned God’s judgment when he spoke about these three cities─Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Jesus heavily focused on these three cities throughout his early ministry. Inspite of great revelation of Christ, their response was very poor. They were stroing up the wrath of God. Jesus knew that the judgment of God was sure to come upon these unrepentant cities. What do Korazin and Capernaum refer to? These are the cities where Jesus demonstrated his mighty work. Yet, people did not believe. These familiar places are today’s London, Paris, New York, and LA where once great revivals occurred.
Finally, the disciples are not alone; God is with them. Look at verse 16: “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The world treated Jesus badly. The world also welcomed Jesus. This world has both people who welcome and people who reject Jesus and his message.
Second,“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven”(17-20)
Jesus’ disciples went out. They imparted the gift of God’s peace. They preached the message of the kingdom of God. They healed the sick. They drove out demons. In doing so, they expereinced the power of the message about the kingdom of God and the authority to drive out demons. “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.’" (17) They are jubilant because many demons were driven out through their ministry. They didn’t feel that they were like lambs among wolves. Rather, they felt like mighty conquerors.
Jesus affirmed their claims by saying, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (18-19) Jesus said, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Jesus points out to us that the source of real joy is not based on what we do (i.e., work results), but who we are (our spiritual position before God). The disciples are in the Honor Roll of the kingdom of God. Everything about them is recorded in heaven. The world records may not always be accurate, but the heavenly record is absolutely precise and exact.
What is this life about? One of the most depressing aspects of this life is this sense of hopelessness and despair. It is this feeling that things will never change and therefore it is useless to try. It is absurd to struggle to live. At this point, many despair, feel hopeless, and hate this life. But this life is worth living because our destiny is not so hopeless. That’s why disciples not only deliver the message of the kingdom of God but also believe it for themselves. On a deeply personaly level, we all need to know where we are now. Our name is remembered. Our security is certain. God knows our name in this world. Our names are written in heaven.
Third, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see”(22-24)
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.” (21) Jesus was joyful because God in his sovereignty chose to reveal his glory to the disciples who had child-like faith. What is so good about these disciples? They were like little children. They did not care too much about what others said about them. They are not too conscious about all the hidden secrets of the world. They were honest, open, and trusting. They were curious. They were not easily hurt and wounded. How can we maintain such child-like spirit? God reveals himself to disciples who listen and obey. God demonstrates his power and authority to the disciples who have child-like faith.
Even in this joyful moment of celebration Jesus expressed his deep sense of loneliness? Jesus said, “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." The disciples came to know the heart of God a little. Yet, no one yet knows what Jesus really knew about. So Jesus was quite lonely. His intimate knowledge about God was kept to himself. What was his comfort? Jesus thanked God who knew him. He also expressed his hope that those whom he chooses (i.e., his disciples) eventually will know his heart. Jesus trusted God and his disciples.
Look at verses 23-24: “Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Jesus turned his attention to his disciples. He told them privately (i.e., very personally) that they were blessed because they saw the mighty work of God with their own eyes and saw the life and ministry of the Savior. With the coming of the Savior they now have the message of the kingdom of God for all people in the world. This is truly a blessing. No prophets in the Old Testament ever had such full revelation and these privileges. Since then, more than 2,000 years have passed. With the rich experiences through the ages, Christians in this century see more than what these disciples saw. In this sense, this is a great blessing for us to live in this generation and see what our eyes see─the mighty work of God in this world.
Jesus reveals God’s heart for this world. This world is not hopeless. Our lives are not helpless. God sees the potential of people. They are ready for harvest. When the barriers of sin are removed, they are a new creation. Jesus urged his disciples to keep their prayer topic to ask God to send out more workers and remember that God is the Lord of harvest. The message of the kingdom of God, power and authority, and joy all come from above. Jesus teaches this truth: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
February 28, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo, UBF.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
